Share this Page

Lampard explains why ‘Golden Generation’ failed

From 2002 to 2006, England boasted a squad of talented players in almost every position.

The Three Lions never progressed as far as the semi-finals in any major tournament however, suffering exits at the quarter-final stage of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, as well as Euro 2004.

Lampard believes that a failure to concentrate on the education system contributed to the country’s inability to capitalise on a squad of players such as Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell, John Terry, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Joe Cole, Michael Owen and himself.

“There are loads of reasons,” he told The Times when asked about the lack of success. “We performed for our clubs but not as a team. We rocked up, some of us didn’t like each other because we played against each other every week. The manager didn’t play three in midfield. Blah, blah, blah.

“They’re all reasons but there’s another. Look at a great country in modern times, like Germany, and I look at their players. I know the facts back this up. Their education system, how they push them, the way they put a reliance on education at the same time as developing them as footballers, is huge. And, for me, that’s a huge factor.”